battery trouble

[mahogany101]

hi, i have a sceptre mk1 1963, my battery seems normal full of power. then occasionally when i stop and restart the battery will appear almost dead for at least 3 turns, then bingo back to normal. anyone got any ideas please.
cheers howard.

[steveC]

Hi,

When I first got my 1963 MK1, this happened to me....eventually I realised it was me that was causing the problem....on mine, if you put your foot on the clutch when trying to start, it completly kills the batery, almost like its shorting out, after several weeks I must of not depressed the clutch when trying to start and it fired first time, every time, I guess I was just not realising I was depressing the clutch, I know it sounds daft, but since then it started no problem. Just a thought....

All the best,

Steve.

[mahogany101]

steve,
thanks for reply. i will try that

many thanks howard

[BeJay]

sounds to me as if it's probably a bad earth connection, remove the engine to chassis earth strap and clean up both ends and replace, do the same with the battery to chassis earth strap and see if that improves it, in theory if you disengage the cluch the engine should turn over slightly easier because the starter is only turning the engine and not half the gearbox internals as well (as it is with the cluch engaged) I can only assume if it's better with the cluch left up (engaged) then that motor also has a poor engine to chassis earth connection and the starter is somehow earthing through the cluch pedal ? (electricity is a bit like water and will take the path of least resistance), HTH, Jack.